Forest House / RAWI Arquitetura + Design

Forest House was born from a deep dialogue between architecture and nature, with native trees that reinforce the environmental character. The 350 m² residence was designed to accommodate a family of three siblings and their father, based on a concept that unites affection, comfort, and respect for the original land.

The housing is located on the top floor of a building from the 1970s. Like most penthouses in the city, it is a residual space despite being the most coveted apartment. By retracting the facade, the unit is positioned above the secondary spaces of the lower floors, with narrow frames and numerous obstacles such as downspouts or ventilation ducts. The goal is to camouflage these defects and through a process of subtraction, leave its structure exposed. Three main spaces are created beneath the original layout.

Set within a sloped, wooded site overlooking the Connecticut River, House in the Woods by Tom Lontine Architect is a 4,400-square-foot residence designed for a pair of hardworking professionals seeking a quiet home to age in place. Low-slung and clad in dark-stained cedar, the house is embedded into the hillside to minimize its visual impact and heighten the sense of immersion in the surrounding forest.

The project stems from the European University's initiative to establish its new urban campus in Valencia in a location that reflects the institution's values, principles, and objectives: to train professionals committed to the future while preserving the legacy and knowledge that precede them.